Maverick Hybrid engine pre-heater, any ideas for a DIY solution?

[semicolin]

I’m in Canada and I had a whole month this winter that never got above -15°C/5°F and I didn’t miss out on not having a block heater on my hybrid. FordPass remote start fifteen minutes early and the cab was always toasty warm. The engine never struggled.

The only issues I had were when FordPass was down, or the two times that the AGM battery itself froze solid. It could still start, but the voltage level dropped me into deep sleep.

I didn’t need the block heater at all, but I did use a battery blanket and trickle charger a couple of times.

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[Escapologist]

I'm in Southern ON, we only got a week of -15 continuous and spotty for a couple more. I think it hit -21 on the coldest start I had. The problem I got was the antennas being buried in snow meaning it wouldn't respond to remote Ford App starts..... it seems like a bit of a low signal spot where I park it anyway. Anyhoo, tried to use that way more than I thought I would, due to horrible weather and to speed up clearing windows. So felt it a bit in the extra gas use. Though still stayed above 30mpg measured, whereas in years of equivalent cold and snow, I've had small econoboxes that were doing 27mpg on a tank in similar.

Anyhoo, didn't seem to need warming to get started, needed warming to get windshield de-iced. (and not freeze when you breathed on it from inside either)

 

[Master Blaster]

Why not have the OEM one installed?

https://ford.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/ford-block-heater-jx6z6a051d

HRG

That does not include the 7hrs labour's involved in it. Maybe just park it in your garage.

 

[Escapologist]

I think I'm starting to miss Haynes manuals for their workarounds and shortcuts

Not always, but if there was a quicker way to do something or a way to avoid using special tools they usually figured it out and told you.

IDK if I actually got this from them or not or a tip from elsewhere but installing an aftermarket block heater on a dodge minivan, you needed to drain barely any coolant if you backed it up on ramps.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

That does not include the 7hrs labour's involved in it. Maybe just park it in your garage.

Aww c'mon, it's only money. Here's a quote I found (12/2025), in CA dollars though.

HRG

 

[MaverickDragon]

I think only DANG! describes my reaction to that invoice appropriately.

 

[Master Blaster]

I think only DANG! describes my reaction to that invoice appropriately.

The block heater installs tight under the exhaust manifold, so it has to come off, the cat converter off with its wiring, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Its a nasty 7hr job that makes it impractical to do after purchase. Just buy a truck with the option installed before they put the manifold on the engine at the factory.

 

[Escapologist]

Under the exhaust, wonder why they had a problem with wires burning, complete mystery that, I bet their engineers are totally baffled

 

[MaverickDragon]

The block heater installs tight under the exhaust manifold, so it has to come off, the cat converter off with its wiring, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Its a nasty 7hr job that makes it impractical to do after purchase. Just buy a truck with the option installed before they put the manifold on the engine at the factory.

You are right about it being way too much work as a retrofit with a ridiculous price tag.
The problem is that you can't get the truck with the block heater as there is a recall, no replacements parts are available, and they can't build the truck with it installed, unless that changed recently.
Oops - Block heater issue resolved. My bad.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Aww c'mon, it's only money. Here's a quote I found (12/2025), in CA dollars though.

HRG

How much extra was the block heater when it was installed at the factory?

I'm thinking a good comparison is having the trailer hitch and wiring installed at the factory for $100 versus what I've seen quoted $600 to $1,200 to have it installed afterwards.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

How much extra was the block heater when it was installed at the factory?

I'm thinking a good comparison is having the trailer hitch and wiring installed at the factory for $100 versus what I've seen quoted $600 to $1,200 to have it installed afterwards.

Currently, it's a $190 option.

HRG

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Currently, it's a $190 option.

HRG

View attachment 242852

Thank You.
That's pretty comparable with $100 trailer hitch with wiring installed at the factory, to $700-+$1000 after the fact.
I get that it's not available now and that there been problems with the wiring.
When I lived up north I had block heaters in the freeze plug I had some in the radiator lines they did help.
Back then if I bought a car without one I had one installed.

 

[mdm0962]

I would like to be able to preheat my Maverick's 2.5 engine next winter. I couldn't find a Maverick with an engine heater on the lot.
I've used ducted heat from a milkhouse heater in the past for vehicles that didn't have a bottom splash cover.
Any ideas?

Block heater or even a dip stick heater are options.

 

[Finnster]

You could install one of these coolant heater pumps that goes inline of a heater hose

https://www.amazon.ca/Zerostart-330...e=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&th=1

They use them a lot on diesels to help them start, best part is it will also circulate the heater core so you have instant heat

I will look into this, but I am very reluctant to modify a cooling system that I know nothing about. I would add one of these to my Chev. K1500 without giving it a second thought because I am familiar with it's cooling system and it is well past warranty, Lol!

 

[Finnster]

If the Mav is parked in a garage and you have AC plug access, Tractor Supply has both dipstick insert and magnetic attachment heaters that aren't very pricey...

As I understand it, the 2.5L engine and oil pan are aluminum. The dip-stick heater is definitely an option I will look into! Thanks!

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